Retail sales in Japan were down a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent on month in June, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said on Monday.
That was well shy of forecasts for an increase of 0.8 percent following the 1.5 percent gain in May.
On a yearly basis, retail sales collected 1.6 percent - also missing forecasts for an increase of 2.1 percent following the gain of 0.8 percent in the previous month.
Sales from large retailers climbed an annu8al 3.5 percent, just missing forecasts for a 3.6 percent increase following the 0.4 percent contraction a month earlier.
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